Five men have been arrested in connection to a stabbing attack in Melbourne’s Docklands which saw one young man killed and a second seriously injured.
Budding basketball player Alier Riak, 23, was killed and his brother Kuol Riak, 26, was seriously injured following the brutal alleged stabbing attack last Sunday.
Police believe Mr Riak, a budding basketball player from xjmtzywWestern Australia, and his brother were allegedly set upon in Docklands on March 13.
It followed reports emergency services were called to Bourke St, near Harbour Esplanade, amid a brawl between a number of young men around 3.20am.
The brothers were both taken to hospital where the basketballer died a short time later.
Two men were taken into custody after raids on properties in Derrimut and Wollert, suburbs north and west of Melbourne’s CBD, on Friday morning.
A 19-year-old Derrimut man and a 21-year-old Wollert man were interviewed by police.
Another man, aged 21 from Tarneit, was also arrested in Docklands on Friday night and interviewed by police.
The Tarneit and Derrimut men were charged with murder, while the Wollert man was charged with affray and violent disorder.
All three faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday night and have been remanded in custody.
A further two arrests were made on Saturday morning after raids on properties in Taylors Hill and Epping in Melbourne’s north.
A 22-year-old Taylors Hill man and a 20-year-old Epping man will now be interviewed by police.
Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said the brother were from a good family and police were working hard to get to the bottom of the incident.
“The victims of this incident were innocent parties who were good people – good students, good athletes and from a good family,” he said.
“These arrests were the result of an incredible amount of work by Crime Command units including the homicide squad, gang crime squad and armed crime squad, while well supported by local police from the north west metro region.
“It’s also a strong and demonstrable statement that for those choosing to engage in this type of violent and senseless crime, police will be relentless in their pursuit of you.
The murder investigation remains ongoing and police have again appealed for witnesses to contact police.
